Only about a thousand times, Paige thought. “It’s crossed my mind before. But the answer should be easy. He’d be a difficult man to live with. He demands perfection. Can you imagine going to bed with him?”
Chavella let out an awkward cough and Paige could see a blush spread across the young woman’s creamy tan complexion. “Not me. But I’m sure you can.”
Paige’s mouth fell open at her friend’s suggestion. “Me? You’re way off base now, Chavella. Yes, I was married to David for a little over a year and he was attractive. But he wasn’t in Dr. Sherman’s league.”
Not physically or morally, Paige thought grimly. Unbeknownst to her, David Raines had a mistress long before he and Paige had been married, and he continued to see the other woman all through their short marriage. When Paige had discovered the truth, he’d tried to appear remorseful, but it had been obvious to Paige that he had no intention of giving up his “other woman.” Not even to save their marriage. Yes, David had believed women loved him for his looks and personality. Not the millions of dollars his family made with their investment firm.
“Paige? What’s wrong? You have a sick look on your face.”
Paige glanced over to see Chavella leaning forward, studying her with concern.
“Don’t worry, Chavella. I’m fine. Just mentioning David’s name brings up bad memories. I was a fool for loving him and believing he loved me. But you know, leaving him and Reno behind was the best thing I could’ve done for myself. I tolerated his wealthy lifestyle because I loved him. But now I realize that even if I hadn’t found out about his mistress, I’m fairly certain our marriage would have eventually ended. I would’ve gotten tired of the city, the parties and constant maintenance of appearing my best in front of his business cronies.” She shook her head with regret. “All I ever wanted was love and babies. I ended up getting neither.”
“That’s all I wanted, too,” Chavella replied. “And I ended up with nothing.”
Seeing she’d managed to make her friend sad with all this talk, she motioned to Chavella’s plate. “Let’s forget about men. Eat up. We only have a few minutes before our break is over.”
*
Early the next morning Luke caught up to Paige just as she was exiting the back entrance of the ER. As the two of them paused on a sidewalk shaded by an overhead awning, she looked at him with concern.
“Is anything wrong, Dr. Sherman? Are we needed back in ER?”
Their twelve-hour shift had been a long, arduous one with hardly a minute to relax. Yet she still appeared fresh and vibrant. He’d always admired her seemingly boundless energy and now as his gaze slid over her, he couldn’t help wondering if she would tackle the task of making love with the same vigor.
Giving himself a mental shake, he answered her question. “Dr. Bradley and his crew are already in full swing of things. I…went by the nurses’ station thinking I’d catch you there, but Helen informed me that you’d already left.”
“Did I forget to do something? I turned over all the patients’ reports to Helen.”
At some point, she’d changed out of her scrubs and into a pair of close-fitting jeans and a white button-down shirt. Her long hair had been loosened from the top of her head and now the wine-colored waves were being tossed about by the hot, summer wind. Big gold hoops were fastened in her ears and pink toenails peeped out from a pair of strappy black sandals. He didn’t know how anyone dressed so simply could look like a sexy dream, but Paige had definitely managed to do it.
All at once the words on his tongue became all wrapped up in a ball of nerves. “I, uh, nothing is wrong. I wanted to ask—I thought we could go have breakfast somewhere. Or are you in a hurry to get home?”
Her lips formed a surprised O. “Breakfast? Oh. I’m not sure. I was on my way to run a few errands before I go home.” She thoughtfully studied the watch on her wrist before she glanced back to him. “I suppose I can take time for breakfast. Grandfather won’t be expecting me until much later. And I am hungry.”
Feeling like he’d just won the lottery, Luke said, “Great. Come on, we’ll take my car. I’ll drive you back here when we’re finished.”
He put his hand on her elbow and gently guided her down the sidewalk to where his car was parked. As they walked, he could smell the faint scent of her perfume, a scent that reminded him of gardenias in the rain. On her it was very feminine and erotic and he could only wonder if the skin beneath her clothing would smell the same. Or would it simply be the scent of a woman?
You’ve lost all your senses, Luke. Ever since you learned Andrea was all about making a gilded life for herself rather than being a loving wife, you’ve not been interested in women. You’ve not even been able to muster up any enthusiasm for sex. Now all of a sudden, a nurse, a farm girl at that, is turning your thoughts every which way. You’re being an idiot, Luke. Living a solitary life means no problems. No heartaches. That’s the way you need to keep it.
Ignoring the words of warning in his head, Luke unlocked the car, then gently helped her into the plush bucket seat. Once he’d climbed behind the wheel, he started the engine and tossed her a questioning glance.
“So where would you like to eat? Do you have a favorite place?”
A frown puckered her forehead. “Luke, are you sure you want to do this? I don’t understand—”
Before she could say more, he reached over and wrapped his hand around her wrist. It felt warm and small and he could feel her pulse pounding rapidly against his fingers. “Paige, I realize you don’t understand where I’m coming from. I don’t understand it myself. But we’ve worked together for a few years now. And I…thought it would be nice to spend some time with you. And I was hoping that you feel the same way about me. Besides, it’s just breakfast. Nothing to get all worried about.”
“I’m not worried,” she assured him, then asked, “So do you ever go to the Green Lizard?”
“You mean the bar and grill a couple of blocks down the street?”
A smile slowly spread across her face and relief washed through him. Inside the hospital it was her job to follow his orders. But outside of work, she was her own boss. If she so chose, she could tell him to go jump in the lake and take his invitation for breakfast with him. He was ridiculously grateful that she hadn’t.
She said, “That’s the one. I’ve not eaten there in a while, but they always serve great food.”
From the chatter Luke overheard at the hospital, he knew the Green Lizard was a popular watering hole for doctors and nurses, but he’d never visited the establishment himself. The rare times he drank a cocktail he was always at home. Alone. The way he did most everything else in his personal life.
“I’ve never been there,” he admitted. “But if you say it’s good, I trust you.”
“It was just a suggestion,” she said. “I’m sure you have a favorite eating place, too.”
Luke didn’t have a favorite anything. Eating out was just a quick solution to ease an empty stomach. He paid his cleaning lady to keep the kitchen stocked with fresh groceries. Most everything else, like clothing, he purchased online. Barring an occasional game of golf with Chet, his life consisted of work and home. But Paige didn’t need to know that. He wanted her to like him. Not view him as some sort of weirdo recluse.
*
Back in the 1800s when gold and silver had lured throngs of fortune-seeking folks to Nevada, the Green Lizard had been a saloon. Since that time, its wild days had subsided, but most of the structure remained the same. There was never a day or night of the week that it wasn’t busy and this morning was no exception. Diners and coffee drinkers were scattered throughout the long room.
As Luke helped Paige into one of the wooden chairs at a small round table, she could see him looking around with interest. The low ceiling was built with huge beams separated by tongue and groove boards. The floor was planked wood, worn completely through in some spots. Across from the dining area, a long bar stretched across one wall. In spite of the early hour, a
bartender was already on duty. For anyone who needed to start the day with a dose of calming spirits, she supposed.
At the moment, something to steady her nerves would’ve been welcome, Paige thought. She honestly didn’t know why she’d agreed to have breakfast with the doctor. If she’d been smart, she would’ve simply thanked him for the offer, then gone on her way. Luke wasn’t a man that she, or any woman, could take lightly. And she definitely had no business spending time with him outside of the hospital. But something about him was too potent to resist.
“How old is this place anyway?” Luke asked as he seated himself across from her. “If it had a pair of swinging doors, I’d be expecting a gunslinger to walk in.”
Paige chuckled. “I think it was built around 1840 or something like that. From what I know about the history of the city, parts of this area suffered a fire back in those days, but this saloon managed to survive. Probably because the miners worked harder to save it,” she joked.
“No doubt. In those days it was probably a big source of entertainment.”
A waiter arrived with two glasses of water and a pair of menus. After both of them ordered coffee, the young man left to fetch it. Paige picked up the menu and, after giving it a brief scan, placed it back on the tabletop.
“You already know what you want?” he asked as he carefully studied his own menu.
“I love the green chili omelet. It’s one of my favorites.”
“I’m afraid I’m not all that familiar with Mexican food,” he admitted. “But I see they have traditional breakfasts also.”
“Oh, why not be brave and try something new?” she suggested. “I’ll help you figure out what you might like.”
He put down the menu and gave her a faint smile. “Okay, I’ll go with what you’re having. Just to see if you have good taste.”
“Everyone has different taste,” she replied. “Mine might be a bit too spicy for you.”
“We’ll see,” he said as the waiter arrived with their coffee.
After the young man had scribbled down their orders and moved away, Paige stirred half-and-half into her coffee and wondered why she found it so difficult to talk to Luke. She worked at his side six nights a week. Sometimes seven. Yet despite that close interaction, he was still much of a mystery to her and everyone else at Tahoe General.
Glancing at him, she decided to venture a question. “You’re not originally from this area, are you?”
“No. Is it that obvious?”
Regarding him thoughtfully, she said, “Not on the outside. But some of the language you use is different. And you have a touch of an accent. I can’t guess from where, though.”
His gaze moved away from her and over to the coffee drinkers at the bar. “I moved here five years ago from West Virginia.”
Five years ago. At that time Paige had been working day shift in the ER. It wasn’t until she’d switched to working nights three years ago that she’d first encountered Luke Sherman. Since then he’d pushed her to be as good a nurse as he was a doctor. And she couldn’t resent him for that. Even if she hadn’t appreciated his high-handed methods.
“Moving this far west must have been a cultural shock for you. Do you like it here?”
Glancing back at her, he shrugged. “I don’t think about it much. But yes—I do like it here. I wouldn’t want to go back east.”
The firm conviction in his voice made it clear that whatever life he’d had before in West Virginia was over and finished. Which only made Paige wonder about him even more. “Did you practice medicine back in West Virginia?”
“In Baltimore,” he said quickly.
When he didn’t elaborate, Paige decided it best not to pry. Instead, she sipped her coffee and wondered what Chavella would think if she walked into the Green Lizard right now and spotted her sitting here with their doctor. No doubt her friend would be stunned.
“I’m guessing you’ve lived around here all your life,” he commented.
She’d never seen Luke Sherman appear relaxed, but this morning he was close to it. And she wondered for the umpteenth time what had been the catalyst for this change in him. It certainly wasn’t Paige’s absence in the ER as Chavella had suggested.
She said, “Not exactly right here in Carson City. I grew up in Reno and lived there until…well, seven years ago. That’s when I got divorced and came to live with Grandfather.”
Surprise flickered in his eyes. “I’m sorry. I mean, sorry that your marriage didn’t work out.”
Before she could stop herself, she snorted. “Don’t be. Leaving David and Reno behind was the best thing that ever happened to me. I love living on the farm. And Tahoe General has become a second home to me.”
“Seven years is a long time. You haven’t wanted to remarry?”
She shook her head. “I’ve not met a man that would make me consider marriage, or for that matter, anything else. Grandfather says I’m too independent. I just like to think I’m smart.”
“I guess I’m the independent sort, too. After I divorced—well, I’m not keen about putting my feelings on the chopping block again.”
Paige was more than surprised by his admission and it must have shown on her face because his lips twisted to a wry slant.
“What’s wrong?” he asked. “You find it incredible that a woman ever married me in the first place?”
Heat poured into her cheeks. “Um, I am a bit surprised. It’s hard for me to imagine you with a wife.”
“Why? Because I’m a tyrant?”
If possible her cheeks grew hotter. Although she didn’t know why she should feel embarrassed. She’d already called him an arrogant bastard. She’d made it clear to him what she thought of his behavior. But that had been before this unexpected change to a nicer guy.
“I wasn’t thinking tyrant. I was thinking you’re a solitary sort of person. That’s all.”
He grunted with amusement. “That’s just a nice way of calling me an arrogant bastard.”
“I’m sorry about that,” she said ruefully.
Shaking his head, he reached for his coffee. “Don’t be. I deserved it.”
He sipped from his cup and glanced around at the tables filled with customers. Although the morning news was displayed on the TV screen hanging behind the bar, the sound was turned off. Instead, a radio was playing music of the ’60s era. The clink and clatter of silverware against glass intermingled with the chatter and occasional smattering of laughter.
From the look on Luke’s face, she got the impression this type of place was all new to him. He probably went to restaurants like Tony’s, she thought, where the tables were covered with linen and the china was paper-thin. Or perhaps he preferred a place like Java Jolt, where the furnishings were starkly modern and most of the clientele were too busy with their laptops to know what they were eating or drinking.
“Do you come here often?” he asked.
“No. Grandfather likes to cook breakfast for me. So unless I have errands to run in the city, I usually go straight home. When Marcella was still working I used to come here with her for an evening meal.” She let out a wistful sigh. “I really miss her. But she’s planning on coming back to work for two or three days a week. After the baby gets a little older, that is.”
“Helen informed me that Marcella had delivered her baby. I’m glad everything went well. I hope she does come back. We need her kind in the ER.”
Paige didn’t doubt his sincerity. As a doctor he wanted the best of health for everyone. And Marcella had been one of the few nurses he’d truly admired.
Paige’s forefinger absently circled the rim of her cup. “Speaking of Marcella, she was the reason you caught me with tears in my eyes.”
A faint frown furrowed his brow. “Marcella? I don’t understand. Did you two have a quarrel?”
Paige let out a short laugh. “Far from it. I’d just gone up to the maternity floor to see her and the baby. And when I held little Daisy—” She paused and tried to clear the lump of rough emot
ion from her throat. “It’s not something a man would understand, but I was just feeling…maternal. And happy that my friend was blessed with a baby she’d wanted for so long.”
He let out a long breath. “You should’ve explained. But then I didn’t give you much of a chance, did I?”
He sounded regretful and that was enough for Paige to forgive him. “Let’s forget it,” she suggested. “That’s over and done with.”
His green eyes studied her face for what seemed like forever and then he said, “All right. It’s forgotten.”
Awkward silence settled over their table and Paige was trying to come up with something suitable to say when the waiter thankfully arrived with their breakfast.
After they’d started eating, Luke said, “This is delicious, Paige. You do have good taste.”
She smiled. “Thanks. I’m glad you like it.”
He reached for a warm tortilla. “When you talked about Marcella’s baby you sounded a bit wistful. Would you like to have children of your own?”
The fact that he was even interested enough to ask such a personal question was unsettling. Did it honestly matter to him what she cared about or wanted in her life? And what was he really doing by asking her out this morning? The questions were whirling through her head.
After a moment, she answered, “At one time in my life I wanted lots of children. But…things didn’t work out. What about you?”
His gaze fell to his plate and as he pushed a fork into the mound of omelet, she studied his hand. The back was lightly tanned, the fingers long and nimble. Countless times in the ER she’d seen his hands save a life. Yet when she tried to imagine a wedding band on his fourth finger, her mind rebelled against the image.
He said, “Sure. When I was younger I wanted kids and all that went with them. But things didn’t work out for me, either.”
Strange how those few words told her so much about this man, she thought. For three years she’d thought of him as cold. A doctor whose constant encounters with life-and-death emergencies had left him isolated and unfeeling. She’d never really thought of him as a man who’d loved a woman and wanted children. No. That never fit in her image of Luke Sherman.
Her Kind of Doctor Page 6